Furniture



Aug. 23, 1932. W, R, SMART 1,873,347

FURNITURE Filed Feb.` 10, 1930 @51j l 7 a @Hoz/Mudo.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FURNITURE Application filed February 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,325.

This invention relates to furniture such as chairs, stools, small stepladders, ladders of all types, tables and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a means whereby the furniture can be readily rolled from place to place while not in use but, when the furniture is subjected to a load, portions thereof will be brought into,

Contact with the supporting surface so as to prevent the furniture from shifting. Thus the improvements are particularly useful in connection with articles of furniture on which persons are to stand or to be seated although it is to be understood that the improvements can also be used advantageously with other kinds of furniture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departingv from the spirit of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing, j

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of an article of furniture showing one of its supporting wheels or casters, the parts being in their normal relative positions.

Figure 2 is an elevation of another portion of an article of furniture similar to that shown in Figure l and illustrating the relative positions of the parts when the article of furniture is subjected to a load.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the 40 upper portion of the supporting caster.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a stool, bench, or the like having supporting legs 2. To each of these legs is attached a yoke 3 having upper and lower arms 4 provided with alining apertures 5. A tubular member 6 is slidable in the apertures and the lower end portion thereof is adapted to receive the stem 7 of a caster 8. A coiled spring 9 is mounted on the tubular member and is secured at one end thereto while its other end is adapted to thrust upwardly against the upper arm 4 of the yoke 3. j

The several springs 9 are of sufficient 55 strength to hold the legs 2 normally out of contact with the supporting surface indicated at S. However, when a slight weight is applied to the article of furniture the springs are placed under compression andthe lower ends of the legs brought into contact with the surfaceS so that the'article offurniture cannot be moved on its caster supports. Consequently, should a person stand or sit on lthe bench or the like there would be no danger of the same slipping out of position. However, when the weight is removed from the article of furniture it can be moved readily from one point to another with the casters as its supports.

What is claimed is:

The combination with an article of furniture, of a yoke secured to an outer surface of the article having superposed apertured arms,

a tubular member slidable freely in the arms and held thereby against transverse movel niture and a load thereon, to permit the article to rest on a supporting surface, and being expansible to automatically lift said article when relieved of its load.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto' afHXed my signature.

WILLARD ROSSITER SMART. 

